Richard Barnfield caused a sensation in the late sixteenth century when he published "The Affectionate Shepheard," a long pastoral poem celebrating the love of Daphnis for Ganymede. The poem is dedicated to Lady Penelope Rich, and it may have been political fallout more than the homoeroticism of "The Affectionate Shepheard" that caused Barnfield to attach an apologia to his next book, "Cynthia." The Cynthia book contains homoerotic sonnets every bit as strong as "The Affectionate Shepheard," an eventuality which has led critics to suspect that the brouhaha surrounding the earlier book may have had more to do with Penelope Rich than with homoeroticism.


Sweet Corrall lips, where Nature's treasure lies,
The balme of blisse, the soveraigne salve of sorrow,
The secret touch of loves heart-burning arrow,
Come quench my thirst or els poor Daphnis dies.
(Richard Barnfield, Sonnet VI, ll 1-4)
The road to Norbury, Staffordshire, where Richard Barnfield was born in early June, 1574.

The church at Norbury where Barnfield was christened June 13, 1574.


Humillity in misery is reliev'd,
But Pride in neede of no man is regarded;
Pitty and Mercy weepe to see him griev'd
That in distress had them so well rewarded:
But Pride is scornd, contemnd, disdaind, derided,
Whilst Humblenes of all things is provided.
(Richard Barnfield, "Second Dayes," ll. 199-204)

 

The road to Norbury Manor, home of the Barnfield family.


Of all the kindes of common Country life,
Me thinkes a Shepheards life is most Content;
His State is quiet Peace, devoyd of strife;
His thoughts are pure from all impure intent,
His Pleasures rate sits at an easie rent:
He beares no mallice in his harmles hart,
Malicious meaning hath in him no part.
(Richard Barnfield, "The Shepherds Content, ll. 1-7)

The fields around Norbury Manor.

The remains of the moat at Norbury Manor.

 

And when it pleaseth thee to walke abroad,
(Abroad into the fields to take fresh ayre:)
The Meades with Floras treasure should be strowde,
(The mantled meaddowes and the fields so fayre.)
And by a silver Well (with golden sands)
Ile sit me downe, and wash thine yvory hands.
("The Affectionate Shepheard," ll. 115-120)

Another view of the Norbury Moat.


Andrew Worrall has discovered that the poet's father disinherited him twice in favor of the younger brother. We have always presumed that after his poetic career in London, Barnfield retired to his family estates in Norbury and lived the life of a country gentleman. But now we know that was not the case at all. His living in the country probably depended upon the generosity of his younger brother.

The new manor at Norbury seen from the old moat.

 

If thou wilt come and dwell with me at home;
My sheep-cote shall be strowd with new greene rushes:
Weele haunt the trembling Prickets as they rome
About the fields, along the hauthorne bushes;
I have a pie-bald Curre to hunt the Hare:
So we will live with daintie forrest fare.
("Affectionate Shepheard," ll. 163-168)

Stones from the old Norbury Manor used to build the new manor. Barnfield would have lived in the old manor.


The church at Stone.

 

For centuries it was believed that Barnfield was buried at St. Michael's Church in Stone, but Andrew Worrall has recently discovered that Barnfield's will is actually not his will, but his father's. Either the poet or his father was buried in May, 1626, at Newport (Shropshire), according to Fred. R. Clitheroe, who found entered in the parish register for that month the name "Richard Barnfield generosus."

The church at Market Drayton where Richard Barnfield was believed to have been buried in 1620.

 

Mans life is well compared to a feast,
Furnisht with choice of all Varietie;
To it comes Tyme; and as a bidden guest
Hee sets him downe, in Pompe and Maiestie;
The three-folde Age of Man, the Waiters bee:
Then with an earthen voyder (made of clay)
Comes Death, and takes the table clean away.
(Richard Barnfield, "A Comparison of the Life of Man")

Copies of Richard Barnfield's poetry may be purchased at:

Writers Club Press
5220 S. 16th St
Lincoln, NE 68512


or on-line at:

Writers Club Press
or
Amazon
or
Barnes & Noble

Inquiries at: georgek@stedwards.edu

A volume of essays on Richard Barnfield can be purchased at:

Associated University Presses
440 Forsgate Drive
Cranbury, NJ 08512

OR Associated University Presses
16 Barter St.
London WC1A 2AH, England

Also available from:
Amazon and Barnes & Noble



Eric Helmuth of Boston has set three of Richard Barnfield's sonnets to music for four-part male choir.


Helmuth's settings were recorded by the Heartland Men's Chorus at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in Kansas City, Missouri, for the 1998 album "With Love, from the Heartland: A Concert of Love Songs." The CD can be ordered at PO Box 32374, Kansas City, MO 64171-5323.




Return to George Klawitter for further information.